Q 01/05

In which region of the Peloponnese was Sparta located?

A) Messenia

B) Laconia

C) Argolis

D) Arcadia

Answer · why

B) Laconia

The state was officially called Lacedaemon; 'Sparta' strictly meant the cluster of villages by the Eurotas River.

Q 02/05

On the banks of which river was ancient Sparta built?

A) Peneus

B) Eurotas

C) Achelous

D) Alpheus

Answer · why

B) Eurotas

The valley was walled in by Mount Taygetus to the west and Mount Parnon to the east, natural defences so good the city was never fortified in its prim...

Q 03/05

How many kings ruled Sparta at the same time?

A) Five

B) Two

C) Three

D) One

Answer · why

B) Two

They came from the Agiad and Eurypontid families, both claiming descent from Heracles, and neither could override the other.

Q 04/05

What was the name of the semi-mythical lawgiver credited with Sparta's constitution?

A) Cleisthenes

B) Draco

C) Lycurgus

D) Solon

Answer · why

C) Lycurgus

Herodotus, Xenophon and Plutarch all tried to explain Spartan exceptionalism through the 'Lycurgan reforms', which followed a period of civil strife.

Q 05/05

What was the name of the state-owned enslaved population that made up most of Sparta's inhabitants?

A) Spartiates

B) Helots

C) Perioikoi

D) Mothakes

Answer · why

B) Helots

They were originally free Greeks from Messenia and Laconia; Thucydides said Spartan policy was always governed by the need to guard against them.